lauravvv, I think we've been talking exactly about egoism? And, IMO, confidence and egoism go hand in hand in the most cases, but I do agree that arrogance is not the same. The problem is that often it's hard to tell one from the other.

lauravvv, I think we've been talking exactly about egoism? And, IMO, confidence and egoism go hand in hand in most cases, but I do agree tat arrogance is not the same. Th problem is that often it's hard to tellone from the other.

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This is very true, though. For me, a dose of arrogance is not bad at all. Sure, I don't condone anyone insulting a fellow competitor. But it is okay for me that they spoke freely about their talent and why they think that sets them apart from the competition. It might not sit well with others, but I like that attitude. As long as it is done without insulting anyone, I think it is fair game. I mean, when Federer was number one, he would say: "They have to play their best to beat me." And, hey, that was (and even today, is) true. He's not insulting anyone, he's simply stating a fact. Many people hate that. I, on the contrary, hate it when Nadal, after beating Federer 6-3 and 2 says: "He's clearly better than me." That's not humility. Anyway, I went a bit off-topic there, sorry.

For the record, the following skaters have exhibited behavior or have given statements that tend to cause me to think that they may have over-active egos (what some might call "arrogance"): Lysacek, Plushenko, Weir, Chan, Moir, and Gracie Gold.

For the record, the following skaters have exhibited behavior or have given statements that tend to cause me to think that they may have over-active egos (what some might call "arrogance"): Lysacek, Plushenko, Weir, Chan, Moir, and Gracie Gold.

it is indeed refreshing to have someone speak their honest opinion compared to people who fake humility. I think those who fake humility are the worst.
Scott has a lot faults but i don't think being egotistical is one of them
But honestly, I don't understand how some people can hate someone so irrationally up to the point they block everyone whose opinion goes against theirs

and yes I have to admit Scott comment's did rub me the wrong way at gpf but when i saw ice, sweat and tears i realized that his comments have been twisted and taken out of context by the media. in his case, tone matters a lot. and like I said before, I have next met an egotistical person who can make jokes about themselves/laugh at themselves. egotistical people don't do that.

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Ok, question: how do you know he didn't "fake humility", as you say, in that "ice, sweat and tears" (whatever that is)? How do you know if those reactions of his, which have made a lot of people assume he has an oversized ego, were not the sincere, true reactions and whatever different side of Scott you saw in some kind of a staged program was?

Also, I actually think a big ego helps in making jokes about yourself. You're just that sure of yourself you can afford it. Notice how insecure people never make such jokes.

Yes, that is true that the media can twist one's words or create the false image - but taken the media aside, Scott just does not come across as a nice person when you meet him. He's definitely not the kind of person you wanna approach and talk to.

Ok, question: how do you know he didn't "fake humility", as you say, in that "ice, sweat and tears" (whatever that is)? How do you know if those reactions of his, which have made a lot of people assume he has an oversized ego, were not the sincere, true reactions and whatever different side of Scott you saw in some kind of a staged program was?

Also, I actually think a big ego helps in making jokes about yourself. You're just that sure of yourself you can afford it. Notice how insecure people never make such jokes.

Yes, that is true that the media can twist one's words or create the false image - but taken the media aside, Scott just does not come across as a nice person when you meet him. He's definitely not the kind of person you wanna approach and talk to.

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it shows you didn't watch the documentary because you're not making any sense. Also it depends on what kind of jokes. I know plenty of insecure people who make jokes about themselves (the kind of jokes in which one brings themselves down. for example when an insecure person says something they're not sure of to another person and a person looks at them weirdly, they would usually joke about what they said to get the approval from that other person)
and FYI you're talking to someone who has met him once 3 years. he wasn't the type of unapproachable person you make him out to be. in fact he seemed very overwhelmed (and hyperactive)

One thing I've learned is that you can't really gauge what a person is like from TV (though I used to think you could)--or even necessarily reputation. In general, it can take years to get to know someone, such that you could state with a reasonable amount of certainty the largeness, smallness, etc., of their ego. So, you would either have to have known that person for years, or need to get this information from someone else who has. Appearances can definitely be deceiving.

Funny to see so many people list Boitano as not having a big ego. I guess I feel the opposite. In nearly every interview he brings up 1988. Even when he was asked about Christopher Bowman's death the day after it happened, he ended up reminiscing about winning the 88 Olympics. But maybe that makes him self-centered more than having a big ego. For the record, big egos don't bother me, even Boitano's whom I love. I think athletes need to have bigger egos if they want to succeed on a big scale.

Funny to see so many people list Boitano as not having a big ego. I guess I feel the opposite. In nearly every interview he brings up 1988. Even when he was asked about Christopher Bowman's death the day after it happened, he ended up reminiscing about winning the 88 Olympics. But maybe that makes him self-centered more than having a big ego. For the record, big egos don't bother me, even Boitano's whom I love. I think athletes need to have bigger egos if they want to succeed on a big scale.

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Didn't he bring up the 88 Oly because it was Christopher who had told him that he had won and Chris was a known prankster?

I report what I've heard from Italian skaters, coaches and journalists.
Kaitlyn Weaver is the sweetest girl one can figure, enthousiast, full of joie de vivre, careful towards people. When she completed her programs, she hopped all over the mixed zone in front of Camerlengo, repeating "I did it!" with sparkling eyes. So sweet.
Misha Ge is very nice and approchable, he loves to be liked. His passion for skating is incredible. He studies acting, but his true ambition is to be more a showman.
Brezina is also very nice. He is close friend with Hotarek; during Berton/Hotarek warm ups, he takes no break keeping them company. Very involved on his friends.
Carolina is ridiculously humble. She takes every praise and compliment with gratefulness, as she had average accomplishments and committment to her work. Her boyfriend's problems made her grow a lot. I'm not implying it changed her mind in a major way: now she is more aware than ever that sport is a chapter in her life, and she is concretely looking forward to her future family and work.
Camerlengo, as Patrick Chan was in Detroit, asked his students to stroke like him for the same time: he was just unmatchable. Everyone here keeps arguing about his big mouth. Valentina told he is actually very humble, no superstar behaviour. He is absolutely friendly, waits for his turn of training like everyone and so on.
Verner is a desperate case. I have the feeling he keeps attending competitions just to meet his friends and hang out with them.
When it comes on Japanese skaters, it is a competition on who is the most down-to heart. They are all sweet like candies, which is also due to their culture and conventionalities. Italian ladies who do the commentary always give Yuzuru a teen-age bonus in this competition.
Scott Moir is another usual target of this board. In Valentina's words he is a "personaggio": quite a character, with a genuine humor. During bus travels he and Charlie rule the show, with pranks and chats in full voice. The topic title asks about big Egos: of course he has, but he's definitely a nice and agreable man.
Valentina hangs out a lot with Alissa, Jeremy, Adam and her fellow Krylova-Camerlengo students. She loves them so much, and is ecstatic of her choice of joining Pasquale in Detroit.
Hope you enjoyed. I don't actually know any secret informations, but the commenting board of Italian TV is chatty, they often host skaters and coaches (once they even had Ottavio Cinquanta) and every now and then some news pop up.

I report what I've heard from Italian skaters, coaches and journalists.
Kaitlyn Weaver is the sweetest girl one can figure, enthousiast, full of joie de vivre, careful towards people. When she completed her programs, she hopped all over the mixed zone in front of Camerlengo, repeating "I did it!" with sparkling eyes. So sweet.
Misha Ge is very nice and approchable, he loves to be liked. His passion for skating is incredible. He studies acting, but his true ambition is to be more a showman.
Brezina is also very nice. He is close friend with Hotarek; during Berton/Hotarek warm ups, he takes no break keeping them company. Very involved on his friends.
Carolina is ridiculously humble. She takes every praise and compliment with gratefulness, as she had average accomplishments and committment to her work. Her boyfriend's problems made her grow a lot. I'm not implying it changed her mind in a major way: now she is more aware than ever that sport is a chapter in her life, and she is concretely looking forward to her future family and work.
Camerlengo, as Patrick Chan was in Detroit, asked his students to stroke like him for the same time: he was just unmatchable. Everyone here keeps arguing about his big mouth. Valentina told he is actually very humble, no superstar behaviour. He is absolutely friendly, waits for his turn of training like everyone and so on.
Verner is a desperate case. I have the feeling he keeps attending competitions just to meet his friends and hang out with them.
When it comes on Japanese skaters, it is a competition on who is the most down-to heart. They are all sweet like candies, which is also due to their culture and conventionalities. Italian ladies who do the commentary always give Yuzuru a teen-age bonus in this competition.
Scott Moir is another usual target of this board. In Valentina's words he is a "personaggio": quite a character, with a genuine humor. During bus travels he and Charlie rule the show, with pranks and chats in full voice. The topic title asks about big Egos: of course he has, but he's definitely a nice and agreable man.
Valentina hangs out a lot with Alissa, Jeremy, Adam and her fellow Krylova-Camerlengo students. She loves them so much, and is ecstatic of her choice of joining Pasquale in Detroit.
Hope you enjoyed. I don't actually know any secret informations, but the commenting board of Italian TV is chatty, they often host skaters and coaches (once they even had Ottavio Cinquanta) and every now and then some news pop up.

Why such reaction? They, Valentina Marchei or Tottoi are not claiming to know everything about those skaters. These are just impressions from meeting them that anyone who has met some skaters could have, regardless of the depth of their knowledge about figure skating.

Scott Moir is another usual target of this board. In Valentina's words he is a "personaggio": quite a character, with a genuine humor. During bus travels he and Charlie rule the show, with pranks and chats in full voice.

Honestly, I don't think Patrick Chan has a big ego. In my opinion he is just not able to handle all this PR thing correctly. But how many twenty-something years old boys would be able to? I have attended many press conferences at competitions and I think I wouldn't have been able to answer to half of the questions the skaters were asked. I probably would have said something very stupid, or I am sure I would have been misunderstood. I am sure each one of us sometimes tries to say something, but somehow what we would like to say is not what we actually say. Luckily we don't have a camera in front of us, or tenths of journalists ready to write down every single word we say and to publish it in a few hours. We can just say "Sorry, actually I meant to say that..." and everything will be fine.
I know that happens to me many times, and I am sure it happens to all of you as well.
And I also have days when I am grumpy, or lazy, or angry about something, but behaving like an asshole for a few hours doesn't make me an asshole for my whole life.
So I don't judge skaters by the behaviour they had during the five minutes we chatted. If they were nice with me, fine, if they weren't, well, they were at a competition. When I had University exams I was VERY grumpy and getting mad at anyone who would dare to talk to me. Still, that doesn't make me a bad person, right? Maybe some skaters can bare pressure better than others, some get grumpy, some make jokes, some get quiet and don't talk, some need to talk all the time, some need to sleep, some need to watch the tv, some need to talk, some need to be left alone...
Nobody is perfect, neither I am, nor are the skaters.